11 YEARS AGO...

Sonya looked up at her lonely child playing with the army men on the black coffee table.
"When will they be here, momma?" Hayden asked, impatiently.
Sonya looked at her bright red watch on her left wrist. "I don't know, Baby." She had accepted to babysit a couple other kids that were her coworkers childen. Hayden was clearly excited to meet them. She had only accepted to it because she didn't have anything better to do and she had just gotten this job and needed a good first impression. The two coworkers had talked the day before at a small coffee shop and Sonya reluctantly agreed to babysitting the kids. It was good for her working life and also good for Hayden to meet some new kids right before school started to get the hang of it. He would be enterning preschool in two days.
"Okay, Momma." Hayden sighed impatiently so loud, Sonya giggled.
Just as Sonya giggled, the doorbell rang. What perfect timing, Sonya thought bitterly. They had been half an hour late as expected. Sonya scolded herself for such bitterness. She pulled open the heavy wooden door. "Nikki!" Sonya said almost relieved. "It's so good to see you!"
"Thank you. I hope they won't be a handful. You know how twins can get. We were a little late because the kids didn't understand what the word, Good Behavior is." Nikki gave the two twins, One girl and one boy, a scolding look. "They were fighting so they skipped breakfast and they didn't decide to tell me that until we were already in the car and you know how that goes. I just stopped by McDonald's where they ate breakfast there." She laughed. "Sorry it took so long."
"It's fine. I totally understand. Although, Hayden was being very impatient, we are all glad you could make it." She laughed nervously. "Well, maybe you kids want to to play with Hayden?" She looked at the barbie doll in the girl's hand. "Or maybe you can help me cook lunch?" She joked. Sonya and Nikki both laughed although it was clearly their nervous habbits. The twins were uncomfortable. The boy looked at Sonya and Sonya moved out of the way of him. She offered genorously if they would like to come inside but Nikki's reply was that she was already late. Nikki kissed both the boy and the girl and told them to behave before walking out the door and into her car.
"Do you want to play armies?" Hayden asked the boy.
"Yes!" The boy said enthusiastically.
"What is your name?"
"My name is Ringo." The boy said, picking up one of the army men. "And that is my baby sister, Arden."
Sonya gently pushed the girl from behind her. "Don't be shy."
She walked slowly over to the boys, holding her barbie doll in one hand.
"Do you want to play armies?" Hayden asked, akwardly.
The girl akwardly at Hayden then dropped her barbie doll in exchange for one of the army men. "How do you play?" She asked sympathetically, listening to the instructins Hayden gave out.

..... Too bad these three won't be playing for long. Things change over the years. Especially in their teen years. And that is when the story begins. When those three all turn sixteen.

Imprint

Text: Copyright goes to Der Frigen for the story idea.
Publication Date: 11-23-2011

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